Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed with his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah on Monday to launch a bilateral dialogue among foreign and defense policy officials on ensuring the security of sea lanes that are vital to transporting crude oil.

The two leaders also confirmed that Japan will expand cooperation in developing infrastructure such as sewers, subway systems and oil refinery facilities in Kuwait, according to a joint statement by the leaders.